GPSFAQs.org: GPS Information

Garmin eTrex Vista Cx FAQ: Waypoints and POIs

1. Waypoints
1. What is a waypoint?
2. How do I create a waypoint on the unit?
3. How do I transfer waypoints to or from a computer?
4. How many waypoints can my unit store?
5. How long can the name of a waypoint or comment be?
6. Are my waypoints stored on removable memory?
7. How can I delete a lot of waypoints at once?
8. I press 'find' to look for the nearest waypoints but found fewer than I expected (or none). What's up with that?
9. What is a POI?

1. Waypoints

1. What is a waypoint?
2. How do I create a waypoint on the unit?
3. How do I transfer waypoints to or from a computer?
4. How many waypoints can my unit store?
5. How long can the name of a waypoint or comment be?
6. Are my waypoints stored on removable memory?
7. How can I delete a lot of waypoints at once?
8. I press 'find' to look for the nearest waypoints but found fewer than I expected (or none). What's up with that?
9. What is a POI?

1.

What is a waypoint?

A waypoint is a stored position. You can create one from the front panel or send them to and from a computer.

2.

How do I create a waypoint on the unit?

Press and hold the mark key. Edit the waypoint characteristics (coordinates, icon, name, etc.) and then select 'save'.

3.

How do I transfer waypoints to or from a computer?

There are a variety of programs that can send waypoints over the USB or serial cables to your GPS. Trips and Waypoints Manager came with the unit and will do it. There are a number of free programs that will do it such as GPSBabel and EasyGPS. The details vary between programs, of course.

4.

How many waypoints can my unit store?

Garmin 60Cx™, Garmin 60CSx™, Garmin 76Cx™, and GarminG 76CSx™ can hold 1000 waypoints.

Garmin eTrex Legend Cx™, Garmin eTrex Venture Cx™, and Garmin eTrex Vista Cx™ can hold 500 waypoints.

5.

How long can the name of a waypoint or comment be?

Waypoints names can be up to fourteen characters long. Comments can be up to 30 characters. It may look like there's more space availble for waypoint comments in the window, but 30 is the most stored. For longer names (if you're willing to give up creating/editing on the device itself and use a computer) investigate custom POIs

6.

Are my waypoints stored on removable memory?

Waypoints are stored in internal memory. The size of removable memory has nothing to do with the fixed limit described above. An alternative to this is custom POIs.

7.

How can I delete a lot of waypoints at once?

Press find > waypoints > menu > delete...This will let you delete all waypoints or waypoints of any given icon of your choosing.

8.

I press 'find' to look for the nearest waypoints but found fewer than I expected (or none). What's up with that?

When you search for nearest waypoints, it will display the nearest of 50 waypoints or about a hundred miles, whichever is least. So if all your waypoints are far away, it's likely that none will show. Change the search type to 'find by name' and all will be displayed.

9.

What is a POI?

A Point of Interest (POI) is similar to a waypoint in that it represents an object on the map that is searchable. It differs mostly from a user waypoint that it can not be edited on the handheld but can only be created by the user via the free POILoader program. (The unit, of course, has a large number of POIs as part of the built-in map database and in any detailed maps uploaded from Mapsource.) Unlike waypoints, custom POIs are stored on the MicroSD card and have no known limits on quantities.

1. Custom POIs
1. What is a custom POI?
2. How are custom POIs different than waypoints?
3. How can I see the custom POIs on the map when I"m zoomed further out?

1. Custom POIs

1. What is a custom POI?
2. How are custom POIs different than waypoints?
3. How can I see the custom POIs on the map when I"m zoomed further out?

1.

What is a custom POI?

Custom POIs are like waypoints in that they are positions that you create. They can be searched, navigated to, and do appear on the map screen of the GPS.

2.

How are custom POIs different than waypoints?

Custom POIs can not be created, edited, or deleted on the handset; they can only be created by software like Garmin POILoader or GPSBabel. You can have many more (tens of thousands) of Custom POIs than waypoints. Custom POIs do not show by default on the map until you zoom into the tightest zoom levels.

3.

How can I see the custom POIs on the map when I"m zoomed further out?

This setting is controlled in Map Setup/Points/User Waypoints. Custom POIs will be displayed when you're zoomed in this close or tighter. Notice that if you have a large number of POIs then turning on declutter will help somewhat.

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